Military operations hampered because half of RAF's aircraft unsafe

Military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are being hampered because almost half of the RAF's transport aircraft are unsafe to fly, a Commons report has revealed.

MPs said they were "very concerned" that 34 out of 75 ageing Hercules, TriStars and VC-10s were not up to scratch.

Forty-five per cent of the fleet was grounded for maintenance and not available to take troops and supplies to troublespots around the world.

Soldiers in war zones could suffer shortages of equipment, said MPs.

Defence ministers were pressed to "urgently" replace the creaking aircraft - some up to 40 years old - because of fears that they will not last until replacements are built.

Delivery of replacement Airbus A400M aircraft is already 15 months behind schedule. They will not be available until spring 2011, piling even more pressure on troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Defence Select Committee's report says: "We have real doubts as to whether the current transport and tanker fleet can provide the level of availability required between now and when these new aircraft come into service."

Defence Procurement Minister Lord Drayson said the MoD had made progress in hitting targets on the armed forces' ability to move troops and equipment around the world.